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Biomedical subjects

F Goldenberg

Publications and source records attributed to F Goldenberg.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Sleep apneas and high altitude newcomers.

Sleep and respiration data from two French medical high altitude expeditions (Annapurna 4,800 m and Mt Sajama 6,542 m) are presented. Difficulties in maintaining sleep and a SWS decrease were found with periodic breathing (PB) during both non-REM and REM sleep. Extent of PB varied considerably among subjects and was not correlated to the number of arousals but to the intercurrent wakefulness duration. There was a positive correlation between the time spent in PB and the individual hypoxic ventilatory drive. The relation between PB, nocturnal desaturation, and mountain sickness intensity are discussed. Acclimatization decreased the latency toward PB and improved sleep. Hypnotic benzodiazepine intake (loprazolam 1 mg) did not worsen either SWS depression or apneas and allowed normal sleep reappearance after acclimatization.

Acclimatization

Risk factors for oxygen desaturation during sleep, after abdominal surgery.

The postoperative period after major abdominal surgery is known to be a period of increased episodic oxygen desaturation. In order to assess the risk factors for episodic desaturation, we have studied 29 surgical patients using pulse oximetry during the preoperative night (Npre) when they received benzodiazepine premedication and breathed air, and also during the first three nights after operation when they received nasal oxygen supplementation. Modal oxygen saturation (SpO2) exceeded 95% during all nights studied. The time spent at less than 90% (t90) and 85% (t85) SpO2 and the average SpO2 nadir (SpO2, nadir) did not differ each night. Heart rate was greater (mean 90.1 (SD 16.6) vs 68.2 (12.0) beat min-1, P < 0.001) during the second night after operation (N2) than during Npre. Before operation, the number of desaturations, t90 and t85 correlated with pharyngeal hypertrophy (P = 0.003, P = 0.002, P = 0.001, respectively). At the same time, t90 and t85 correlated with body mass index (P = 0.02 and P = 0.05, respectively). During N2, t90 correlated with radiological lung consolidation (P = 0.05) and SpO2, nadir correlated with FEV1 (P = 0.03). We conclude that there are several mechanisms responsible for oxygen desaturation and that these mechanisms differ before and after surgery.

Abdomen

[Sleep in normal aging].

Sleep in the elderly is characterized by a decrease in the ability to stay asleep resulting in a more fragmented sleep. Spindles are less frequent and less ample, shorter, without an increase during the night contrary young subjects. Delta activity in slow wave sleep is decreased in the 0.5-2 Hz frequency band only. REM sleep occurs earlier the first REM period duration increases. The REM sleep appearance is almost uniform during the night. REMs density does not increase toward the end of the sleeping period. The sleep-wake circadian rhythm is advanced (bedtime and morning awakening occur earlier). The temperature rhythm is also advanced. The rise in temperature after the nadir begins earlier for females and the initial ascent is more rapid. This explains why women wake up earlier and sleep for shorter durations than men. The nocturnal and diurnal mean plasmatic norepinephrine values increase. The rhythm of cortisol secretion is advanced. The GH and melatonin peaks of secretion are decreased. The acrophase of melatonin rhythm is occurring later in the elderly. These results suggest a weakening of circadian structure in the course of aging and an altered relationship between the pacemakers driving melatonin and cortisol circadian rhythms.

Aging

Insomnia and use of hypnotics: study of a French population.

A cross-sectional study of insomnia and hypnotic use was performed in a sample of the French population. The quota method was used to select the sample of 1,003 subjects, with less than 3% substitution. Subjects were 15 years old and older and were representative of the French population based on gender, age, marital status and living environment. Subjects were asked questions relevant to the complaint of insomnia and hypnotic use and filled out questionnaires measuring anxiety and depression. The complaint of insomnia is common, even in the 15-24-year-old group. Overall, more women than men were afflicted. The largest group of insomniac subjects, and the group who most often used hypnotics "frequently and chronically", were women 45 years and older. Men presented a sharp increase in hypnotic use after 65 years of age. Ten percent of the entire sample used hypnotics, 8% for more than 6 months and 6.17% on a chronic and frequent basis. Retired and unemployed elderly were also chronic and frequent hypnotic users: aging and social isolation correlate with chronic and frequent hypnotic usage. Higher scores on anxiety and depression scales correlate with more frequent complaints of nocturnal sleep disturbances. Young individuals are a significant complainer group but use hypnotics rarely. A rural environment was associated, overall, with fewer insomnia complaints, but environment had much less impact on complaints and hypnotic use in the elderly than in other age groups. One may question whether, in the French population, hypnotic prescription and intake are not responses to a social rather than a medical problem.

Adolescent

[Use of the Cerebral Function Monitor in the study of physiological sleep].

After a brief description of the different phases of physiological sleep, the reasons for employing a new appatus, the Monitor of Cerebral Function, are discussed. This instrument, the first designed for continual monitoring of cerebral activity may be employed in neurophysiology. The results obtained are presented, i.e. the demonstration of a perfect correlation between the Monitor of Cerebral Function recording and the polygraphic methods. The paradoxal and rapid phases of sleep are easily distinguished. The study of paradoxal sleep, both in physiology and in pharmacology, could profit greatly from the use of the MCF due to the great advantage of its ease of operation.

Adult

Clinical investigation of the menstrual cycle. II. Neuroendocrine investigation and therapy of the inadequate luteal phase.

Nonhormonal drugs--diphenylhydantoin and nialamide, which act on the central nervous system and have no known endocrine activity--were given to two groups of women with distinct types of electroencephalographic patterns in an effort to regulate menstrual disorders. Equalization of the lengths of both the follicular phase and the luteal phase to the normal range was observed during the drug therapy. Forty-five per cent of the pregnancy rate was achieved in 36 of the 80 infecund patients within 4 months of treatment. The mode of action of these drugs is still unknown.

Adult